Dear CES friends and families:
It has been another great week at Columbia Elementary School! See below for this week's news and notes. Have a wonderful weekend!
Take care,
Mike Astudillo
Proud Principal
Columbia Elementary School
Strategic Plan Feedback Survey closes 3/20/23
Your Input Needed: Is FCPS' strategic planning process heading in the right direction? Take a survey and tell FCPS what you think about the first draft of Strategic Plan goals. https://survey.k12insight.com/r/ParentStrategicPlan
Spring Direct Donation Campaign through 3/24
Please donate today to support the Columbia ES PTA in their fundraising goal of $7,400 for the Spring Direct Donation campaign. All proceeds will go toward replacing up to six whiteboards in our classrooms and two friendship benches for outside the school. You can donate on Memberhub (https://columbiapta.memberhub.com/store/items/833023) or return the flyer that went home on Tuesday with cash or check (payable to Columbia ES PTA). Thanks for your support!
Digital Citizenship and Internet Safety for Families
As a parent, you might be wondering what apps and games are age-appropriate for your child. How can you help your child enjoy technology and media in a safe way? FCPS recommends a four-pronged approach for supporting children. This approach will help your child become a smart, safe and balanced user of technology. The first approach is establishing expectations by developing and enforcing media and device plans.
Establish Expectations at Home
Families are urged to develop device and media use plans. Plans will take into account each child's age, health, personality, and developmental stage. The effects of technology and media use on children also depend on the:
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Content type and quality (age-appropriate, educational).
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Context of use (when, where, why, how and with whom).
- Degree to which its use supports critical thinking.
- Degree to which it promotes creation over consumption.
- Degree to which it is active versus passive
These factors are important to consider before setting expectations for each child. These resources will help parents set expectations:
Get advice to common questions:
Annual Book Fair is coming soon!
The Spring Book Fair will be happening the week before Spring Break from March 27 to March 31. The book fair will be open during school hours throughout the week and there will be a special Family Night at the Book Fair on Tuesday, March 28 from 5:00 to 6:30pm.
We would love to have volunteers who can help out at the Book Fair during the school day and on our Family Night.
Please sign up using this form: Sign up here
We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the Spring Book Fair!
Have you placed your Art to Remember order yet?
Only 1 more week to order your Art to Remember items and receive FREE SHIPPING!
Orders are due next Friday, March 24th. Click on the link below and enter the online order code shown on your child's order form or to search for your child's artwork. Then, have fun shopping! https://arttoremember.com/school/z2phtl
Any orders placed after March 24 will need to be shipped to home. You can share your child’s code with extended family and friends to order keepsakes as well. If you have questions, please reach out to our Art teacher Mrs. McKenna mbmckenna@fcps.edu.
Proposed Updates to the SR&R
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Newsletter: Proposed Updates to Student Rights and Responsibilities The Department of Special Services will be hosting two virtual meetings for the FCPS community regarding proposed updates to the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Regulation. Please join one of the meetings below via Zoom (click the date to register):
Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the suggested updates and ask questions via Zoom Chat. Language interpretation will be available in Spanish. A certified deaf interpreter will be available as well.
Beginning Monday, March 20, families and staff will also be able to provide feedback on proposed updates to the SR&R via a short survey. Please stay tuned for details. Visit FCPS’ website for more information.
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Spanish:Actualizaciones Propuestas a los Derechos y Responsabilidades del EstudianteEl Departamento de Servicios Especiales tendrá dos reuniones virtuales para la comunidad de FCPS con respecto a las actualizaciones propuestas a la Regulación de Derechos y Responsabilidades del Estudiante (SR&R). Por favor, únase a una de las reuniones a continuación a través de Zoom (haga clic en la fecha para registrarse):
Los participantes tendrán la oportunidad de conocer las actualizaciones sugeridas y hacer preguntas a través de Zoom Chat. Habrá interpretación en español. También estará disponible un intérprete certificado para personas sordas. A partir del lunes, 20 de Marzo, las familias y el personal también podrán dar su opinión sobre las actualizaciones propuestas para el SR&R a través de una breve encuesta. Por favor manténgase en sintonía para más detalles. Visite el sitio web de FCPS para más información.
 SIBSHOPS:
An Exciting, In-person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!
The Sibshop workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with special needs to:
- Meet other siblings in a relaxed setting.
- Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs.
- Share sibling experiences and receive peer support.
- Play games and have fun!
Friday, April 14, 2023, 9 a.m.- noon at Providence Community Center
Presented by FCPS School Social Work Services
Register for SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!
View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.
Columbia Staff Spotlight
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